Interchangeable house number



Jan. 16, 1934. G, J OL N 1,943,740

INTERCHANGEABLE HOUSE NUMBER Filed May 4. 1933 G. J. Olson Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNETD STATES PATENT OFFECE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to interchangeable house numbers, its primary object being the provision of a base for supporting a plurality of number plates which are interchangeable on the base.

5 Another object which I have in view is the provision of a base for supporting number plates which are slidable on the base and which are prevented from leaving the base except in the line of their sliding movement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of number plates which are slidably secured to a base, the number plates being arranged to prevent their overlapping when on the base.

Another of my objects is the provision of a base which may be secured to a house with number plates to designate the number of the house, the securing means being arranged to latch the number plates on the base.

Another of my objects is the provision of a base having channels for the reception of number plates, the edges of the number plates being turned up to prevent their overlapping and hav- .ing the corners cut away to prevent binding of the number plates in the base.

Having llIl VleW these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following description, I will now refer to the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the base and of a pair of the number plates and showing also the optional devices for securing the interchangeable house number to the house and for securing the number plates to the base.

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the number plates on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figures is a face view of a house number in its base.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a portion of a porch with my house number secured thereto.

The base 10 is best shown in Figure 1. This consists of an elongated member of sheet material having its upper and lower edges rolled at 11 and apertured at 12 at the four corners of the base. This base is designed for the slidable reception of the number plates. Since house numbers are usually either of three or four numerals, the base 10 is preferably made in two lengths for supporting either three number plates or four number plates.

The number plates 13 are all rectangular and they are identical with respect to size and shape. They differ only in the numerals 14 which are embossed thereon. The plates themselves have two upturned side edges 15 and each plate is provided with four apertures 16 at its corners.

The position of these apertures is very important as it is necessary that they all be positioned similarly in all of the number plates 13. It is also necessary that the apertures 16 be so arranged that the end apertures will register with the apertures 12 of the base 10.

The number plates 13 are inserted into the grooves provided by the rolled edges 11. These grooves are relatively shallow and largely to avoid the necessity of deep grooves I cut away all of the corners of the number plates 13. This makes it possible to turn the edges 11 to make a groove which is but very slightly wider than the groove which would be required were the number plates fiat. The cutting away of the corners also makes the insertion of the plates much easier and it also prevents the binding of the plates 13 on the base 10.

The formation of the number plates is a simple matter for the manufacturer. The blank of sheet metal with its corners cut is subjected to one [5 operation for turning up the side edges 15 and for embossing the number 14. The embossed numerals 14 are substantially on the same level as the edges 15, as shown in Figure 2.

When the number plates are in their position so as indicated in Figure 3, they may be secured to the base by means of any of several devices but in nearly all cases the means for securing the number plates to the base is available for securing the entire interchangeable house number to the house. In Figure 1 I show a hook 1'? which may be secured in place to the porch beam as shown in Figure 4. The hook not only holds the house number suspended where it will be readily observed but it also prevents the sliding movements of the number plates relative to the base. If, however, it is desired to secure the house number against a flat surface, this may be done by means of screws or nails 18 passing through the registering apertures 12 and 16 and into the wall, as shown on a stair riser in Figure 4. The house number may thus be secured in any desired place where it will be visible to persons seeking the number.

While any suitable material may be employed for making the base member and the number plates, my preference is for sheet metal and especially for sheet steel. In practice I employ sheet steel which is enameled after it is formed, contrasting colors being preferably employed. By using black enamel for the foundation and White on the raised portions of the numerals, a strong contrast results which makes the house number readily visible in semidarkness since even dim street lighting will set ofi the white numbers against their black background.

Because of the construction of the interchangeable house number, the parts are very readily assembled. The number plates are easily slidable in the base member and they automatically assume their correct positions for bringing the end apertures of the base member into alignment with the end apertures of the two number plates at the ends of the house number. Their application to the house is also a simple and easy matter. The dealer need carry in stock a number of base members of two lengths and a suitable number of number plates carrying the numerals from 0 to 9. When the purchase is made the dealer picks out a base plate suitable for three or four number plates as the case may be and he then picks out the number plates having thereon the proper numerals. The fastening devices are also included, their form depending on the particular manner of use which the purchaser has in mind.

The device is intended primarily for house numbers. It is obvious, however, that the identical device may be used wherever numerals are displayed and especially where the displayed numerals are to be interchangeable. They could thus be used as price tags in filling stations and in similar places. The identical device may also be used in churches to designate hymn numbers. The idea may be carried still further by substituting letters for numerals and displaying messages. The base member may be made in any desired length since it consists merely of a sheet of metal which is rolled at its top and bottom edges and which is apertured at its corners. It

may thus be made in any desired length to adapt it to uses other than for house numbers.

Having thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact terms that its construction and operation will be readily understood by others skilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An interchangeable house number including a base member having its top and bottom edge portions turned outwardly and then into position parallel to the body portion of the base member, a plurality of number plates individually slidable on said base member between the outturned portions thereof, each of said number plates having outturned edge portions forming obtuse angles with the body portions of the number plates, the corners of said number plates being cut away, and means for securing said number plates against movement relative to said base member, said means being adapted to function to secure said interchangeable house number to a house.

2. An interchangeable house number including a base member having its top and bottom edge portions turned outwardly and then into parallelism with the body portion of said base member, and a plurality of number plates individually slidable on said base member between the outturned edge portions thereof, each of said number plates being identical in form and being provided with identically positioned apertures in the corners thereof, said base plate being provided with apertures in its corners registering with 1 the end apertures of the two end number plates whereby said interchangeable house number may be either suspended from the house or secured to a flat portion thereof and whereby the means for securing the interchangeable house number to the house will also secure the number plates to the base member.

GUSTAVE J. OLSON.

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